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About J.B.

Baltimore City

J.B. Shepard is a self-taught photographer, costume designer and animal advocate, best known for his ongoing photographic series 'Paper Hats, Portraits of the Once Discarded'. Paper Hats features anthropomorphized portraits of dogs wearing elaborate costumes composed of carefully sorted scraps of upcycled paper and other found materials. He is the founder of the Puptrait Studio, located in the Baltimore City neighborhood of Hampden. 


View J.B.'s Resume
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Paper Hats, whimsical portraits of the once discarded

The goal of Paper Hats is to show that all anyone or anything needs to shine is a second chance. Whether it’s a foster dog who was dealt a rough hand or a newspaper circular printed only to be never read, that with a little love, patience and creativity could be something amazing. 

My approach for the series was pretty straightforward. I raided recycling bins for materials (newspaper, paper plates, even a few plastic cups) and designed elaborate costumes for rescue and foster dogs. The dogs were photographed over the course of  6 years at my dog friendly photo studio located in Baltimore, Maryland.

Proceeds from Paper Hats benefit Bella’s Bully Buddies, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit 100% volunteer operated dog rescue and foster organization.

Learn more about Paper Hats by visiting puptrait.com/paperhat-portraits
  • the Content in Paper Hats
    the Content in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.
  • The Tramp in Paper Hats
    The Tramp in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.
  • the Queen in Paper Hats
    the Queen in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from upcycled post-consumer waste.
  • the Debonair in Paper Hats
    the Debonair in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.
  • the Oriole in Paper Hats
    the Oriole in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.
  • the Hero in Paper Hats
    the Hero in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Paper Hats was designed by Baltimore based lifestyle photographer, J.B. Shepard, and features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products. The creative photo series encourages viewers to see rescue and foster animals from a new perspective.
  • the Fool in Paper Hats
    the Fool in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Paper Hats was designed by Baltimore based lifestyle photographer, J.B. Shepard, and features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products. The creative photo series encourages viewers to see rescue and foster animals from a new perspective.
  • the Sphinx in Paper Hats
    the Sphinx in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Paper Hats was designed by Baltimore based lifestyle photographer, J.B. Shepard, and features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products. The creative photo series encourages viewers to see rescue and foster animals from a new perspective.
  • the Admiral in Paper Hats
    the Admiral in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Paper Hats was designed by Baltimore based lifestyle photographer, J.B. Shepard, and features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products. The creative photo series encourages viewers to see rescue and foster animals from a new perspective.
  • the Chef in Paper Hats
    the Chef in Paper Hats
    From the surreal pet portrait series, Paper Hats. Costumes and photography by J.B. Shepard. Paper Hats features dogs wearing hats made from post consumer paper products.
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    • Bullies of Baltimore

    Bullies of Baltimore presented rescued, foster and adoptable pit bulls alongside iconic Baltimore landmarks and sights. 
    • Bromo Tower
      Bromo Tower
      A dapper foster dog in a derby cap sitting in front of the Bromo Seltzer Tower in Baltimore.
    • the Senator Theater
      the Senator Theater
      A dog wearing 3D glasses in front of the iconic Senator Theater of Baltimore on York Road. The blur / 3D effect was captured in camera using a strobe with a long exposure.
    • National Aquarium
      National Aquarium
      A dog with a SCUBA mask and snorkel coming up for air in front of the National Aquarium at the Baltimore Inner Harbor
    • Druid Hill Reservoir Wall
      Druid Hill Reservoir Wall
      A blue pit standing on the wall along the Druid Hill Reservoir.
    • Jones Falls Expressway
      Jones Falls Expressway
      A happy pit bull recently re-homed grinning next to the Jone Falls i83 entrance sign on Falls Road in Hampden near the Skate Park.
    • Golden Hand
      Golden Hand
      A rescued pit mix in front of Adam Kurtzman's 11-foot Giant Golden Hand attached to the American Visionary Art Museum.
    • Mount Vernon
      Mount Vernon
      A pit mix in front of the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon, Baltimore, Maryland
    •

    • Mutts of Mobtown

    An on location pet portrait series featuring rescued dogs in front of Baltimore landmarks and sights. Proceeds from this show benefited BARCS.
    • Patterson Park Pagoda
      Patterson Park Pagoda
      A pug mix sitting in front of the Patterson Park Pagoda of Baltimore
    • Hon
      Hon
      A toy poodle wearing a pink Hon style beehive wig in front of the giant Flamingo attached to the Hon Bar in Hampden.
    • Space Chihuahas
      Space Chihuahas
      Two toy sized chihuahuas wearing kitschy space alien antennas in front of the iconic Rocket from Rocket to Venus
    • Beltway Motel
      Beltway Motel
      A pug sitting in a Walmart shopping cart in front of the Beltway Motel in Arbutus
    • Domino Sugar
      Domino Sugar
      a mutt in front of the Domino Sugar sign in the Baltimore Inner Harbor
    • Druid Hill Park wall
      Druid Hill Park wall
      A pit bull sitting on the stone wall along i83 next top the Druid Hill Park reservoir.
    •

    • Digitally Painted Pet Portraits

    Pet portraits composites and digital paintings.
    • Bloop
      Bloop
      Composite portrait of a pet Chihuahua.
    • Heads They Watch
      Heads They Watch
    • A Portrait of an Artist
      A Portrait of an Artist
    • Sons of Europa
      Sons of Europa
      A family portrait commission. The hands and feet of the dog are actually those of the children featured in this photo composite. The session was commissioned by the father of the children and was intended as a gift for his wife, their mother. Hence then inclusion of Europa, which was named for the mythical character who was the consort of Zeus and mother of the King Minos of Crete.
    • Space Dog in Space
      Space Dog in Space
      A dog floating among the planets in a space suit.
    • Angel Feather
      Angel Feather
    •